Colombia Travel Guides for Backpackers

Hiking in Tayrona National Park in Colombia

In our Colombian tour, we got to the point when we headed to the Caribbean coast. Our first stop was Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia. The city itself is not a big deal but it’s at the ideal location: anyone who wants to discover the coastal area, could […]

Seoul: War Sites to Visit

Where can we find the remnants of war in societies that have been subjugated by cultural phenomena such as Korean pop? Seoul is one of many places in South Korea where you can revisit the Korean War (1950-1953). Here are some of the iconic ones. 1-. Korean War Memorial West […]

San Blas Islands – How to get there and practical tips

If you are looking for a beautiful natural destination, with untouched nature, a unique local culture, and the Caribbean Sea as a bonus, this is the place for you. San Blas is an archipelago composed of over 360 small tropical islands in the Caribbean, and are the territory of Kuna […]

4 Reasons Why You Should Visit Peru at Least Once in Your Life

Writing about Peru is a difficult job because I always feel that somehow I am missing out. That is why I decided to come back with a more thorough, maybe even more convincing article. So there we go! Ancient History Now, as related previously, after visiting the most famous historical […]

Bogota: A Guide to Colombia's Vibrant Capital City

With so many beautiful cities and national parks to visit in Colombia, some travelers might overlook Bogota, Colombia’s bustling capital city perched high in the Andes mountains. Although it lives up to its nickname of “the refrigerator of Colombia,” don’t let that turn you away from this gem of a […]

Unmissable places to visit in rural areas of Colombia

I open the window to you, the window of a space which a lot of people have resided. A space I have lived and loved, a love that means try to be the best version of a Colombian woman, difficult. For that, this narrative keep printed a grade of hospitality; […]

What to Expect from the Trek to the Lost City of Santa Marta

Whether visiting Colombia for a few weeks or living in one of the country’s beautiful cities, the trek to “La Ciudad Perdida” (The Lost City) is an unforgettable experience. Located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Santa Marta near Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the trek offers stunning vistas and lush foliage […]

Barranquilla's Carnival – Top Things to Do

Barranquilla has been known as the “Golden Gate of Colombia” for decades and noted for the world’s second-largest carnival proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. For those interested in visiting the Carnival celebrated in Barranquilla, Colombia, with a two-three day […]

5 Reasons to Travel to El Salvador in 2019

Hello Everyone! Have you started planning your vacation for next year? Are you trying to decide whether to go to a paradisiac beach or reconnect with yourself up in the hills? Well, then you are in luck because in this article I’m going to share with you a place that […]

Experience the city of Cartagena

Cartagena is a wonderful city in the north part of Colombia. It is really easy to fall in love with Cartagena and the places to visit in this city. The sunset view is so romantic, the sea water so clear, the history so strong, and the people so warmth. To get […]

Top Places And Treks To Do In The EJE CAFETERO: Colombia

The Eje Cafetero is one of the most important Coffee Producing Regions of Colombia. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because it is the most representative area of this region for its landscapes and culture. If you are looking for Colors, Mountains, Trekking, Animals, Adventures, Culture, Nature, and […]

10 things to do in Bogotá, Colombia

I was born and raised in Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia, but It wasn’t until I began traveling, that I realized how amazing my city truly is. Bogotá happens to be a city where history, art, (fast moving) modern life and culture lives. That means that one day you can […]

5 reasons why you should visit the Tatacoa Desert

The Tatacoa desert is a hidden gem located 280km (174 miles) to the south of Bógota. With its interesting history, lunar and dramatic landscapes, incredible stargazing, and various activities, adding this destination to your Colombia itinerary is a must! Here is a little background, 5 reasons why should visit this […]

Beaches and Restaurants in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

I had the marvellous opportunity to live in the gorgeous city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia for 6 months, and it was truly amazing. This time I would like to share with you some of the top beaches and restaurants I met while living there, and would recommend to any […]

Best Places to Visit in South America

Now that I am home in the U.S. after spending a year in South America, the most common question I get is, “What was your favorite place?” This is a very difficult question because South America has it all. It ranges from tropical beaches to snowy mountains, from ancient ruins […]

Tayrona National Park: a paradise come true

For sure you have heard about Colombia, but trust me, nowhere as majestic like this national park: El Tayrona name given by the ancient people who lived there. What to know about this place The indigenous people of the Sierra: The original owners of this land are the indigenous people […]

Do's and don'ts when traveling to Santiago de Chile

Chileans love foreigners, tourists usually think that we’re nice and gentle, I know it because I’m a tour guide since 2016, they’ve told me. But we’re not always so nice, especially in our capital. Santiago is a beautiful city, full of nature, activities, and life, but it’s also full of people, […]

Chuao: a stunning place with denomination of origin cocoa

Chuao is a remote village located on the coast of Aragua, Venezuela. It is known especially for its cocoa, which is just one of the many blessings of Chuao because it also has a beautiful beach, wells, rivers, waterfalls and a centuries-old artistic tradition. In the following lines, you will […]

Choroní: Cloud forest, bluegreen beaches, rivers and drums

Choroní is a town located in the coastal area of the Aragua State. However, in Venezuela the mention of its name usually encompasses, among other places, Puerto Colombia – with its colonial houses, the Malecón (pier) and the beautiful Playa Grande – and Chuao, another town for which it is […]

Cartagena: sunset and night life

Cartagena de Indias is without a doubt one of the most visited destinations when it comes to travel to Colombia. It is a perfect mix of history and the development of modern cities, this combined with the friendliness of its people gives, as a result, an unforgettable experience. This magical city is located on […]

Winter in the Twins Rocks: Rockaway, Oregon

One of the great things in life thanks it for each minute that it will give to you, because each moment is an opportunity to discover new things, meet new people and see new places. That is the reason I want to bring a place that besides of the sand, […]

Ecuador: Experience South America

Ecuador's incredible diversity If you want to experience South America saving time and money, Ecuador is the place for you. Ecuador is a country located in the mid-center of the Earth, right on the equator line, between Colombia and Peru. Something I find very interesting is that despite its very […]

La pastora, Risaralda: A place you have probably never heard of

La pastora is located in the Ucumarí Natural Regional Park. This place is the visitor center of this natural reserve, where hundreds of tourists and locals come yearly to disconnect from technology and take a break from their busy lives. If you are looking for a quite place to spend […]

Budapest – Visiting Magical City On A River Danube

Three years ago I applied for a scholarship in Budapest to study the Hungarian language for one semester. Living in Budapest for 5 months was a blast! I met a bunch of foreign people from Egypt, France, Venezuela, Colombia, Russia, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Poland, Japan, Korea, China, Brazil, Argentina, Hungary. […]

The route of Salsa in Cali

Cali “La capital de la Salsa” (salsa capital) Also called “La sucursal del cielo” – The sky brand, Cali is the third bigger city in Colombia and its a city located in the Valle del Caucadepartment, southwest of Bogotá. And Its well is known as the city of the salsa dancers. The […]

Cabo de la Vela: La Guajira Colombia

This is not like any other trip … the one that you are going to find scrolling down. 1117 kilometers indicates our old map located on the wall of our bedroom. This map showed us and it is going to show you as well, how to get to Riohacha in […]

Perfect low budget tips for 3 days in Medellín

Perfect low budget tips for 3 days in Medellín What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Medellín, Colombia? Right. I am afraid that it has something to do with white powder. That is probably the result of the popular Netflix series Narcos. However, when driving […]

Backpacking in Peru for 17 days

Last July a couple of friends and I went Backpacking in Peru! They had extra time to afterward go to Colombia, but I only had 17 days for this trip, so we tried to work our stay in Peru according to my limited schedule, to make the most of it. […]

5 Things To Enjoy New Delhi.

After a year in India, I can truly say I know how to meditate even when I am working and my boss is asking to have 10 tasks completed in 5 minutes. It taught me patience, self-respect, and baking. I found the love of my life and realized that everything […]

Medellín – “The city of the eternal spring”

MEDELLIN – COLOMBIA Well, perhaps you have heard about my city a lot, because of that show on Netflix and some soap operas that have been quite successful in the media, but I have news! It is all preconceptions. I want to tell you about the “Medellín” I know, I […]

My life experience in a little town called Tauramena Casanare

Great to be there!! Tauramena is located on the Colombian Eastern Plains. A few years ago, this was the richest municipality in Colombia due to the oil royalties. This royalties caused it to go from a small town, with electrical energy generated by portable power generators, without pavement streets, without […]

Paradise of a Unique Kind in Medellin, Colombia

For many, the vision of paradise involves tropical beaches, palm trees, sipping an exotic tropical cocktail, and watching the sunset beyond the waves. Others prefer to escape the salty air, sweating, and sand chafing for a more refreshing clime and the prospect of eternal springtime; for this latter group, Medellin, […]

Filandia: Hidden Gem of Colombia

Most travelers that are familiar with Colombia have visited or at least heard of Salento, the town most visited by foreigners in Colombia’s coffee region. Unfortunately, Filandia is typically overlooked by backpackers when planning their trip through the Zona Cafetera. At first glance, the two towns appear very similar with […]

Mashpi Area of Conservation – Ecuador

What about to spend time in nature? eating fresh food? watching the unique birds species in the world? learn about the process of cacao into chocolate? spend time on a farm doing volunteer work? sharing and learning new things with the local community? or maybe just go to the must […]

How to move in Bogota: handy information for your next trip

So, if you're coming to town soon, you'll find this information useful. It can save you some time, money, and even a few headaches to know more about how to transport yourself in such a large city. ARRIVING Let's start with the obvious. It is very likely that you arrive […]

Picturesque Town of Guatapé, Colombia

Picturesque town of Guatapé, Colombia Have you been wondering where your next destination should be in Colombia? Have you been following Narcos or know of Pablo Escobar, the notorious king of Medellin cartel? Do you like being surrounded by beautiful landscape? Then I suggest you to consider taking a trip […]

Salento and the Valle de Colombia: Colombia's Coffee Region Gems

Colombia is often talked about for it’s ‘magical realism’. A place so beautiful, enchanted and alive it seems surreal. When I walked through Salento’s colourful streets and trekked the misty hills of the Valle de Cocora that’s certainly how I felt. After four perfect days in and around this little […]

8 things you probably didn't know about small town Colombia

In the past ten years, Colombia has become a popular tourist destination. The country is leaving behind it's reputation of drugs and violence, and is now part of the well-trodden backpackers path in South America. Colombia has become so popular because it has so much to offer; if you're looking […]

Dangerous Bali – 5 things you should know!

Bali is a paradise, but some things can easily change it into a big nightmare. These are the five things people normally don´t expect or don´t know about when coming to Bali: 1. Men gigolos The phenomenon of an Asian woman, who can be easily found in the nightclubs seducing […]

Istanbul: baklava and a shopping spree in the Grand Bazaar

Every time someone asks me about my trip to Istanbul, my words are always the same: “Magic, the only thing missing were sparkling lights in the air”. Maybe because it was one of my lifelong dreams mixed with my anticipation to the cultural and history boost I was about to […]

Some basics before traveling to Medellin, Colombia

Colombia, a country to visit If you are reading this post, it's because you probably would like to visit Medellin, a city that has become very famous thanks to the (not so nice) series, that show the so horrible history we have passed through. Here I tell you about this […]

Ybor City: Where Culture Meets Tampa

Whenever Tampa is brought up into conversation, you will always hear the same question: “Have you been to Ybor City?” I moved to the Tampa Bay area about 3 and a half years ago, and I can understand why people are reluctant to not mention Ybor City when they talk about […]

Pavia: A tiny italian city with cheap wine.

I can still recall the smell of wine and the old rain falling from the most beautiful sky i had ever seen. It was the smell of a tiny italian city called Pavia. Starting summer this year of 2016, i had the chance to travel as an english teacher volunteering […]

Brisbane: 7 Lovely Places to Visit.

Hello, there! I decided to write about Brissie because I lived there last year and I felt in love with this amazing place! So I would like to recommend you visiting 7 places if you are in this city of Australia. Let´s go! South Bank Brisbane […]

Cali, Colombia: The Next Big Tourist Destination

Santiago de Cali, more commonly referred to as Cali, is a vibrant city located in the southwest region of Colombia. Nestled in the Valle de Cauca with a population of roughly 3.5 million Cali is the third largest city in Colombia, behind Bogotá and Medellin respectively. When I learned about […]

Bogota – the graffiti capital

Bogota street art The city Bogota gets a pretty bad rap. It isn't known for being the most beautiful or exciting of cities and many tourists quickly hightail it out of here for Medellin or Cartagena. Some even skip it entirely. But Bogota actually has plenty […]

Cartagena de Indias: the beginning of a love history with Colombia.

As a Colombian was really hard to see my own country as a touristic place. I thought that for being a tourist or a backpacker I had to travel long distance and going to other continent to finally being a tourist but no, I realized that I’m not a tourist, not in […]

Why Climb Mountains When You Can Climb Volcanoes?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the great outdoors. I love going on hikes and kayaking and being out in nature. However, my idea of climbing mountains is the east-coast, Philadelphia suburbs version of climbing mountains. We’re talking the Poconos, which at its highest peak is an exaggerated 2,200 feet […]

5 Melbourne Date Ideas With A Difference

Melbourne is a city on the rise, its population has an astoundingly fresh average age of 28; the youngest in Australia. The city lives and breathes youth; Coffee pours from all corners and street art is never far away. Along with its young and trendy culture comes a hefty price […]

Colombia: The Lost City (La Cuidad Perdida)

Colombia: The Lost City (La Cuidad Perdida) Imagine spending four days deep inside a remote, tropical jungle, away from the hustle and bustle of the cities. Add to the mix a diverse range of fauna and flora, rainfalls, fresh water rivers where you can swim to escape the heat all […]

Brisbane: All that you should know about this icredible city

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and is the third most populous city in Australia. I've been living here for almost two years and have had many experiences and many different feelings from the beginning until now, I want to share all that I have found here with everyone who wants […]

Welcome to Colombia

The week ended very differently from how it started. It was our first ocean border crossing, paddling from Central America across to South America through the San Blas islands. [single_map_place] San Blas Islands [/single_map_place] Panama: San Blas Islands Picture a postcard of the beach: glistening white sand, glassy turquoise waters, […]

Santiago de Chile: The Basics

To understand Santiago de Chile as a touristic place, we have to see it under the light of day and night, from heights and from the ground, in the simplicity of a coffee in a quiet neighbourhood and in the frenzy of the city life. After all, is the capital […]

Colombia

As a traveler, one of the most rewarding things you can do is travel somewhere that is unknown to you. We can all agree that Paris is romantic and Italy has good food, whether we have been there or not, but after a while the excitement of fulfilling expectations does […]

Salento and the Coffee Region of Colombia

Colombia: A Varied Landscape Colombia is now the third largest producer of coffee in the world. They take pride in this heritage as it defines their history and their cultural landscape today. If you picture Colombia, you may first picture Cartagena and the lively Carribean port town with their vibrant […]

Medellin: A Thriving Metropolis

Square of Lights Medellin: I know what you're thinking. The most dangerous city in the world? Right? Wrong. Twenty years ago, yes, Medellin was deemed the most murderous, violent and dangerous city in the world. When I first told my parents I was traveling to Colombia, […]

Colombia’s Caribbean Coast Part I – Santa Marta & Surrounds

Santa Marta In theory, Santa Marta has quite a lot to offer. Firstly, it is the second most important colonial city on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia. Secondly, the highest and only snowy mountains of the Country, called la ‘Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta’, are just located behind this coastal […]

Bogotá: Romantic and Nostalgic

When people hear about Bogotá, the last thing that comes to their mind is romance and culture this city, located in one of the most underrated countries of Latin America: Colombia, has a lot to offer to any seasoned traveller. Bogotá, a city with 6,7 millions habitants, it’s the capital […]

3 Reasons Why We Love Medellin

Medellin was once called the most violent city in the world. Mention Medellin to any person who has never visited the city of “eternal spring,” and the first comment that comes out of their mouth is something like this, “Oh that place is dangerous, with its history of Pablo Escobar-ish drug […]

Cartagena – A trip in time

Cartagena, Colombia – A Trip in Time “Alegria, alegria con coco y anìs vengo del barrio de Getsemanì” Ever heard those lines? if not, you should probably plan a trip to Cartagena, the heroic city located in the caribbean coasts of Colombia. Lately it has become a very popular destination for […]

Go to Salento, Colombia

I arrived in Salento after a few weeks in the bustling cities of Colombia thinking, `I just need some space to breathe`. Salento turned out to be the perfect cure for the city blues. Getting in Salento is a sleepy, really tiny town about 4 hours (by bus) north of Cali. […]

Find destination, accommodation and travel guides specifically for young and young at heart travelers. These articles aren’t your usual commercial articles crammed with paid endorsements. Real people, either locals or travelers will give you the inside tips on what to do so you step off the plane, train or bus and get straight to the heart of your destination.